The binding activities of VAR2CSA-50-962, VAR2CSA ectodomain, and VAR2CSA-50-962-9-site-mutation to JEG-3 cells or HepG2 cells were tested by immunofluorescence assay using confocal fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Green (stained with anti-His-FITC antibody) indicated VAR2CSA proteins; blue (DAPI) represented cell nuclei. Compared to the controls (no proteins added), VAR2CSA50-962 and VAR2CSA ectodomain could specifically bind to JEG-3 cells and HepG2 cells, and no obvious difference in the binding affinity was observed between the two proteins, while the cell-binding activity of the VAR2CSA-50-962-9-site-mutation was eliminated.

Wang W, Wang Z, Yang X, Gao Y, Zhang X, Cao L, Dai A, Sun J, Sun L, Jiang L, Chen Z, Wang L. The molecular mechanism of cytoadherence to placental or tumor cells through VAR2CSA from Plasmodium falciparum. Cell Discov. 2021 7(1):94.